Fluid feeding device



Feb. 2, 1943. H. L. BAER FLUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7. 1940INVENTOR.

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Patented Feb. 2, 1943 ENITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID FEEDING DEVICEHarry L. Baer, Dormont, Pa.

Application February 7, 1940, Serial No. 317,693

1 Claim. (Cl. 210-38) This invention relates to apparatus for feedingliquids out of tanks, and more particularly to apparatus for feedingliquids from tanks into fluid pressure lines and the like.

For example, in the treatment of flowing water to soften it or toprevent scale formation and corrosion in the pipes and tanks throughwhich it flows, it is common practice to make use of what is known as aby-pass. This comprises a small tank having in its ends an inlet and anoutlet connected by pipes to the water pressure line so that some of thewater flowin through the line Icy-passes around through the tank. Thetank is filled periodically with the desired liquid chemical fortreating the water in the pressure line, and the water that is bypassedthrough the tank carries or feeds this chemical into the pressure linefor that purpose. A serious disadvantage of such a by-pass is that thewater that flows through the tank mixes with the liquid chemicaltherein, and as the volume of liquid decreases the volume of waterincreases. Consequently, the chemical is gradually diluted so that itbecomes weaker and weaker as it is fed from the tank. Heretofore therehas been no satisfactory way of preventing this dilution.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide means whichoperates by fluid pressure for feeding a fluid from a tank, whichprevents the fluid from being diluted in the tank, which is simple andinexpensive in construction, which is easy to install, and which isdependable and highly satisfactory in operation.

According to this invention a tank has an outlet opening and an inletopening adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure. Forexample, these two openings may be connected to a fluid pressure line.Disposed in the tank is an expansible and collapsible or flexible memberthat divides the tank into two chambers sealed from each other, onechamber being in communication with the tank inlet and the other withthe tank outlet. The latter chamber is adapted to receive the treatingfluid that is to be fed from the tank. When pressure fluid enters thetank inlet it moves the major portion of the expansible and collapsiblemember toward the tank outlet and thereby forces the treating fluid outof the tank. Preferably, the expansible and collapsible member consistsof a flexible bag whose opening is connected to the inlet of the tank.In such a case the tank is filled with the treating fluid while the bagis collapsed, and the pressure fluid is admitted to the ba which itslowly expands and thereby expels the treating fluid from the tank.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side View, partly in section,of my apparatus showing the tank full of a fluid-treating liquid withthe collapsed flexible member at the bottom; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection through the tank showing the flexible member fully expanded; andFig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a tank i is disposed at one side ofa fluid pressure line 2, such as a water line, and is provided with anopening at one end connected by a pipe 3 to the pressure line. Theopposite end of the tank is provided with an opening also connected by apipe 4 to the water line, and the two pipes are provided with valves 5which may be closed to cut the tank off from line 2. Either of the tankopenings may serve as the inlet, and the other as the outlet, dependingon which way the water is flowing through the pressure line. If thewater is flowing upwardly in line 2 in Fig. 1, then the lower tankopening serves as the inlet. The tank is adapted to receive a liquidchemical with which the water in the pressure line is to be treated forthe purpose of softening it, preventing scale formation and corrosion,or the like.

It is a feature of this invention that the liquid chemical is fedundiluted from the tank to the water line, so that a uniform quantity ofchemical is delivered to the pressure line per minute as long as thesupply lasts, and in the desired amount per given number of gallons ofwater. Accordingly, disposed in the tank is a hollow expansible andcollapsible member provided with an opening that is connected to one ofthe tank openings in order to divide the tank into two chambers sealedfrom each other. This member is preferably a flexible bag ll made ofrubber or other suitable liquid-tight material and having only a smallopening which is connected to the lower opening in the tank by a tubularsealing member I2. When the valve in pipe 3 is opened, water underpressure from line 2 will enter the tank and tend to expand thecollapsed bag against the liquid chemical in the tank. As the valve inpipe 4 is opened at the same time, the chemical is free to flow into thepres-sure line at a rate controlled by the valve 5 in that pipe. Theexpanding bag forces the chemical from the tank, but prevents the waterthat enters the tank for this purpose from mixing with the chemical bagfills the tank so that substantially no chemical can remain therein.When expanded, the bag therefore is of the same shape as the interior ofthe tank.

After the tank has been emptied of its liquid chemical valves 5 areclosed, a drain valve I6 connected to pipe 3 is opened, and a ventingvalve l1 connected to pipe 4 is also opened. This permits air to enterthe tank so that the water in the bag will drain therefrom and the bagwill collapse, after which the tank can be filled again with liquidchemical through valve ll. As soon as the tank has been refilled andvalves 5 and I! closed, valves 5 are opened and the feeding apparatusstarts functioning again in the same manner as before.

If the water is flowing through line 2 in a direction corresponding todownwardly in Fig. 1, the bag is filled with the liquid chemical andwater under pressure from the line is admitted to the tank through pipe4. This pressure slowly collapse the bag and thereby feeds its contentsinto the water line through pipe 3. In such a case the tank should bepositioned with its outlet at the top, such as when viewing Fig. 1upside down, so that the bag can be filled by merely pouring thechemical into it.

It will thus be seen that my invention makes it possible to feed aliquid from a tank by fluid pressure without diluting the liquid. Thefeeding means is very eificient, although inexpensive and easy toinstall. No sealing rings or the like are necessary because once the baghas been clamped in place there is no chance of the water mixing withthe chemical in the tank. The bag can therefore be readily installed inexisting by-pass tanks.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and construction of my invention and have illustrated anddescribed what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However,I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

I claim:

Apparatus for feeding a water-treating liquid undiluted to a waterpressure pipe line, comprising a tank for said liquid provided with aninlet and an outlet, mean for connecting said inlet and outlet to saidpipe line at opposite ends of the tank, a flexible bag disposed in thetank and having a restricted opening communicating with said inlet, atubular member extending through said opening and inlet and having aflange at its inner end overlying a portion of the bag sur-- roundingsaid opening, means outside of the tank for drawing said flange tightlyagainst the bag to clamp the portion of the bag surrounding its openingto the tank in sealing engagement therewith, aid bag substantiallyfilling the tank when expanded, means for controlling the entrance ofwater from said pipe line into said bag whereby to force said liquid outof the tank outlet and into the pipe line, closable means for admittingair to the tank, and means for connecting the bag with the atmospherewhile said closable means is open to permit the bag to drain andcollapse.

HARRY L. BAER.

